Chapter 121: The Battle Plan
The following morning, barely light, the camp was already busy.
When Lucian emerged from his tent, the air carried the smell of dying embers and the residual richness of last night's roasted lamb. The feast had put new life into the men — even the sentries on patrol showed no trace of fatigue.
Sebas was already waiting outside.
"Lord Lucian." Sebas gave a slight bow. "The carriage is ready."
"Thank you, Sebas. Though this sort of thing is better left to others."
Lucian hadn't grown quite arrogant enough to feel that a level-100 dragonoid ought to be attending him.
"It's nothing, Lord Lucian. You have done so much for me — what I can do is the very least."
Sebas had been looking for ways to repay Lord Lucian, and kept finding that the debt simply couldn't be repaid.
The carriage had been sent by the Dragon Kingdom the previous day — nothing particularly lavish. Sebas had thoughtfully lined the compartment with soft cushions, making it reasonably comfortable. The wheels rolled over the stone paving with a rhythmic sound. Morning wind slipped through the window's gap, carrying the clean freshness that belongs only to early hours.
Lucian leaned against the carriage wall with his eyes closed.
Sebas's gaze rested on the slowly passing street scene outside the window — whether watching or standing guard was hard to say.
The carriage moved through the outer city's streets and into the royal castle area. Guards along the way recognized the marking on the carriage and snapped to attention.
In the palace conference room, people were already waiting.
When Lucian and Sebas entered, all of Crystal Tears had assembled.
Serabure sat on one side of the long table. He wore silver-white armor today, the Crystal Tears insignia carved at the chest, a long sword leaning against his chair, the gems on its scabbard giving off a deep blue gleam.
Three team members stood behind him.
A burly man, his arms thicker than most men's thighs, a massive steel shield hanging at his waist. Crystal Tears' warrior — his name was Malcolm, or something like that. Lucian had seen him in passing during previous visits, but too infrequently to be certain.
A middle-aged man in a dark long robe, thin-faced, holding a thick spellbook. The magic caster — Gla... Glaxton? Lucian had trouble placing it.
And a slender elven woman, long hair hanging at her shoulders, two short swords at her waist, eyes vacant in a way that suggested she had not entirely woken up.
A ranger — Eda Alicia. Two swords, but Lucian had noted that her dominant hand was the left, and that she had a weakness for small, cute animals like kittens.
Queen Draudillon sat at the head of the table.
She had changed into a deep blue dress today, the hem considerably longer than yesterday's pink one, nearly covering her ankles. Her black hair had been braided and lay draped across her chest, giving her overall bearing considerably more dignity.
Though her large eyes still projected a deliberately manufactured hint of nervous apprehension.
Prime Minister Bergmann stood one step behind the queen, hands clasped at his back, face carrying its calibrated smile.
Lucian took the seat on the other side of the table. Sebas did not sit — he stood behind Lucian in the manner of a proper butler.
Draudillon's gaze swept over Lucian, then moved quickly to Sebas.
Just as I thought. She reflected quietly. That elder must be an advisor whose strengths are intellectual rather than physical. A butler's bearing, and his age suggests considerable experience — but probably not much fighting capability. Count Lucian brought him along for strategy.
The queen was quite satisfied with her own reasoning.
"Now that everyone is present." Prime Minister Bergmann took half a step forward, his gaze moving across both sides of the table. "The strategy meeting begins."
He drew a map from inside his coat and spread it on the table.
The map was large, nearly filling the entire surface.
Different colored inks marked the beastman army's lines of advance, the Dragon Kingdom's front-line defensive positions, the towns already lost, and the current standoff line between the two sides.
Red arrows, dense and unrelenting, extended from the beastman nation westward — as though tearing a great wound in the Dragon Kingdom's territory.
"According to intelligence received from the front yesterday," the Prime Minister's finger moved across the map, his tone steady to the point of coldness, "the beastman main force is currently concentrated here, roughly three days' march from the royal capital."
He tapped a position on the map marked with a red X.
"The beastman king is very likely within this main force. His precise location, however, remains unclear."
Serabure's gaze fixed on that red X.
"So," his voice was low, as though suppressing a combat impulse, "our mission is to infiltrate behind their lines, locate the beastman king, and kill him."
"Precisely." The Prime Minister gave a slight nod.
A brief silence followed.
"As for specific tactical deployment, I have some thoughts." Lucian broke the silence. Everyone turned to look at him.
Serabure's brow drew in slightly. The cowlick on his head gave a single quiver, as though alert to something.
"Count Lucian, please speak freely." The queen made her best effort to perform dignified composure.
Lucian's finger came down on the position of the beastman main force.
"I plan to lead the Aindra domain cavalry in a flanking maneuver around the beastman main force and strike deep into their rear. If the beastman king notices his rear is becoming unstable, he'll very likely redirect his reserves." His finger moved slowly across the map. "At that moment, a gap will open in his command position."
Serabure's eyes narrowed.
"You're saying you intend to handle the entire operation yourself?"
"No." Lucian shook his head. "My cavalry and Sebas will be with me."
He paused, as though just remembering something, and added: "Of course, Crystal Tears is also essential — you'll need to hold the defensive line and prevent the beastmen from breaking through. As for killing the beastman king, leave that to me."
BANG.
Serabure's fist came down on the table.
"What!" His voice rose several degrees. The cowlick nearly stood vertical. "You're planning to have Crystal Tears handle nothing but defense?"
He stared at Lucian, expression shifting from wariness to complete disbelief.
"A mission this critical — killing the enemy's commander — and you plan to go at it alone?"
Serabure's voice was not quiet. It carried across the entire conference room.
Malcolm glanced sideways at his team captain. The thick arm shifted slightly, apparently considering pulling the captain back — then gave up, the logistics of the arm's size making it impractical.
Glaxton quietly opened his spellbook, only half his face visible above the cover, wearing the expression of a man deeply absorbed in reading — clearly having no intention of getting involved.
Only Alicia continued to space out.
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